Kristin Spanjian's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
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Kristin Spanjian has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2020 Political Courage Test.
Montana State Legislative Election 2020 Political Courage Test
| Pro-choice | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions? | |||
| Re: c) I do not support using public funds for operative abortions but I support public funds for organizations that provide women's healthcare, including those that assist with termination of pregnancy. These organizations provide family planning and birth control, which will decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies. I believe the decision to terminate a pregnancy is a very difficult and personal one and government should not dictate here. | |||
| No | a) In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions? | ||
| b) In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? | |||
| c) Do you support establishing a state sales tax in order to reduce personal property taxes? | |||
| Re: b) I would consider an income tax increase on the wealthiest if needed to balance the budget. Re: c) I am waiting to see what the Interim Committee's study on taxation finds in this matter. I am willing to consider a small sales tax that would exclude essential items such as food and medicines. High property taxes disproportionately affect the agricultural community and retirees, so these taxes must be reduced and offset by more equitable taxes or fees. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support a limit on campaign contributions to state candidates? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | |||
| Yes | e) Do you support automatic voter registration? | ||
| Re: d) Yes, or other accepted photo ID such as a student ID | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? | ||
| b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | |||
| No | c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| No | d) Do you support the use of private prisons in Montana? | ||
| No | e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders? | ||
| No | f) Do you support the legalization of recreational marijuana? | ||
| Re: b) Depends on the circumstances but I agree this can be used at times Re: c) Do not want our local law enforcement (and their budget) to be used by something that is a federal obligation Re: f) Would consider this if regulated to those over age 21, lab testing that could be used to apply limits before operating a vehicle, etc. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| No | b) Do you support lowering state income taxes as a means of promoting economic growth? | ||
| c) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector? | |||
| d) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits? | |||
| Yes | e) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Montana? | ||
| f) Do you support requiring employers to provide paid family leave? | |||
| Yes | g) Do you support providing financial relief to businesses AND/OR corporations negatively impacted by the state of national emergency for COVID-19? | ||
| Re: c) This is not a black or white issue; it very much depends on the regulation and the effect on the public as a whole Re: d) If this means monthly, then it is impractical and expensive. If yearly, it would be reasonable. Re: f) Depends on size of business/number of employees but generally I am in favor of this Re: g) Yes but there should be limit. Almost all businesses have been negatively affected. Corporations that may be affected but still doing fine should not get repeated assistance. | |||
| a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in Montana? | |||
| No | b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Montana? | ||
| d) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Montana high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities? | |||
| Re: a) A minimum standard but not necessarily an exam that then requires "teaching for the test". Would prefer this standard to be set by the state not the federal government. Re: d) Children brought to this country illegally by their parents who then go on to graduate from high school should be given the opportunity to attend public universities at in-state tuition and a path to citizenship so they may become productive and contributing members of this society. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| Re: a) I would support incentives, not full funding | |||
| a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation? | |||
| Yes | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom after passing gun safety training? | |||
| Yes | d) Should a license be required for gun ownership? | ||
| Re: a) As a gun owner, I recognize that this is not a black or white issue. There are opportunities to make gun ownership safer without being "gun-control". Re: c) Only if there is a safe way to transport and store their guns to avoid accidental harm. Re: d) Similar to a driver's license; both vehicles and firearms are usually operated safely but can be dangerous if used incorrectly. | |||
| Yes | a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through Montana's health care programs? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia? | ||
| No | e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations? | ||
| No | f) Do you support requiring businesses to provide paid medical leave during public health crises, such as COVID-19? | ||
| Re: c) Yes, but need to make this more affordable! Re: d) Yes with appropriate safeguards against abuse Re: e) No, but those exempted need to accept that they may be excluded from certain institutions during outbreaks Re: f) With a crisis like COVID-19, businesses may not be able to provide such assistance. I would hope the federal government could provide help here. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Montana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Montana's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support greater efforts by Montana state government in closing the pay gap between men and women? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the creation of Indigenous Peoples Day in Montana? | ||
| Re: c) Absolutely - in Montana we still only pay women about 70% of the salary given men for the same work Re: d) Recognition as such is appropriate but would support this in addition to - not instead of- other celebrations | |||
| Other issues include Country Of Origin Labeling - a program requiring labeling of beef and pork products sold in Montana indicating if it was produced in the US or a foreign country. "COOL" is a win for both consumers and ranchers. In addition, I support promotion and incentives for mid-sized local meat processing sites in which ranchers have some control, possibly cooperatives. These would require federal inspectors so meat could be marketed across state lines. Both of these measures would support cattle and swine prices, thereby helping producers and encouraging a new generation of ranchers. | |||
| Reinstating Country Of Origin Labeling in Montana would be my top priority. It had previously been a law in Montana and was repealed when it became a federal law. Now that law has been repealed under pressure from corporate meat processing monopolies and foreign trade agreements. I would try to fund it in the way it had been funded before. I see enforcement as the major expense. |
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